US6545384B1ExpiredUtility

Electroactive polymer devices

99
Assignee: STANFORD RES INST INTPriority: Feb 7, 1997Filed: Jul 20, 2000Granted: Apr 8, 2003
Est. expiryFeb 7, 2017(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ronald E. PelrineRoy D. Kornbluh
Y10S310/80H04R 19/02F04B 35/045F05C 2225/08H02N 2/023H04R 23/00F04B 43/14H04R 2499/13Y10S977/788H04R 17/005F02G 2243/52Y10S977/742F25B 9/14F04B 43/043F02G 1/043H04R 5/02F04B 35/00H04R 17/08H10N 30/206H10N 30/30H10N 30/857H10N 30/2042
99
PatentIndex Score
1,768
Cited by
147
References
33
Claims

Abstract

The present invention relates to transducers, their use and fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention also relates to devices including an electroactive polymer to convert between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention further relates to compliant electrodes that conform to the shape of a polymer included in a transducer. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising: 
       at least one transducer, each transducer comprising:  
       at least two electrodes, and  
       a polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer, wherein the polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto; and  
       at least one flexure coupled to a second portion of the polymer, the flexure improving conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy.  
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  further comprising a first stiff member attached to a third portion of the polymer and a second stiff member attached to a fourth portion of the polymer. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2  wherein the first and second stiff members are used to mechanically couple the device to a second device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3  wherein the device is included in one of an actuator, a generator or a sensor. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain in a second direction greater than pre-strain in a first direction. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the flexure couples polymer deflection in a third direction into deflection in a fourth direction. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is included in one of a robot, a motor or a toy. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  wherein the transducer is stretched before the change in electric field. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9  wherein the at least two electrodes apply a voltage that produces a pressure in the polymer less than the elastic restoring stresses resulting from the stretch. 
     
     
       11. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy in a first direction, the device comprising: 
       at least one transducer, each transducer comprising:  
       at least two electrodes, and  
       a polymer arranged in a manner which causes a first portion of the polymer to deflect in the first direction in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer in the first direction; and  
       a pair of flexures coupled to opposing sides of the polymer, the pair of flexures improving conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy in the first direction.  
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 11  wherein the pair of flexures couples polymer deflection in a second direction into displacement in the first direction. 
     
     
       14. The transducer of  claim 11  wherein the transducer is included in one of a robot, a motor or a toy. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11  wherein the device is included in one of an actuator, a generator and a sensor. 
     
     
       16. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising: 
       at least one transducer, each transducer comprising:  
       at least two electrodes, and  
       a polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer, wherein the polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto; and  
       a frame attached to a second portion of the polymer, the frame comprising at least one non-circular aperture.  
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16  wherein the non-circular aperture is a slot. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 16  further comprising a bias pressure added to a first side of the polymer. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18  wherein the bias pressure is provided by a swelling agent. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 16  wherein the device is included in one of an actuator, a generator or a sensor. 
     
     
       21. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising: 
       at least one transducer, each transducer comprising:  
       at least two electrodes, and  
       a polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer, wherein the polymer has an elastic modulus at most about 100 MPa without electrical energy applied thereto; and  
       at least one flexure coupled to a second portion of the polymer, wherein deflection of the at least one flexure during deflection of the polymer improves conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy.  
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21  further comprising a first stiff member attached to a third portion of the polymer and a second stiff member attached to a fourth portion of the polymer. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 22  wherein the first and second stiff members are used to mechanically couple the device to a second device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy. 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 21  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain. 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain in a second direction greater than pre-strain in a first direction. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 21  wherein the device is included in one of a robot, a motor or a toy. 
     
     
       27. A device for converting between electrical energy and mechanical energy, the device comprising: 
       at least one transducer, each transducer comprising:  
       at least two electrodes, and  
       a polymer arranged in a manner which causes a portion of the polymer to deflect in response to a change in electric field and/or arranged in a manner which causes a change in electric field in response to deflection of the polymer; and  
       a frame perimetrically disposed about a planar surface of the polymer and including a set of joints and a set of members, each of the members attached to a different perimetric portion of the polymer, and each joint allowing motion between two members coupled to the joint.  
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 27  wherein the frame comprises six joints and six rigid members. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 27  wherein the two members coupled to a joint have a different length. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 27  wherein the frame improves conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy for the polymer. 
     
     
       31. The device of  claim 30  wherein the frame improves conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy for the polymer during deflection of the polymer. 
     
     
       32. The device of  claim 27  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain. 
     
     
       33. The device of  claim 32  wherein the polymer comprises pre-strain in a second direction greater than pre-strain in a first direction.

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